Lovetts
VNLS
7:45pm - TuesdayTue 26th FebruaryFeb 2019
| Att: 718

Truro City
Truro City
0 - 1

Woking
Woking

Little’s strike brings large reward

Ian Toft
12:00am, Tue 26th Feb 2019
Truro City 0 Woking 1
Vanarama League South
26th February 2019

Woking remained a point off of the top of the National League South by securing a crucial win in Cornwall.

Armani Little’s impressive strike midway through the first half proved the difference in a closely contested encounter. Truro City rallied well in the second half but the Cards ultimately held on for three valuable points.

On a clear mild February night, the Cards made the long journey South West to face the White Tigers at Treyew Road. Alan Dowson made three changes from the weekend’s defeat at Dartford. Armani Little returned from suspension and was joined in central midfield by new signing Olumide Durojaiye. Jake Hyde was also recalled to partner Dave Tarpey (pictured above) in attack. Stepping aside were Greg Luer. Christian Jolley and Ian Gayle.

The Cards attacked the Clubhouse End in the first half. Tarpey was instantly involved in the action. He saw one fierce shot clear the crossbar before another soon after was blocked by Bentley when the shot appeared to be goal bound.

At the other end the first of many impressive free kick deliveries through the evening from Riley Lowe was collected by Ross. Another attempt from the same source minutes later flew at a crowd of bodies in the penalty area. Lewington was the first to get up and redirected with the back of his head towards goal. Ross had to spectacularly readjust to palm the looping attempt over his crossbar.

Paul Hodges sought to get a hold on the game when he collected a short pass in midfield. Sensing space ahead he weaved through three opponents before he opted to shoot just inside the Truro penalty area although the effort was agonisingly wide of the far post.

The White Tigers continued to apply pressure back. Another difficult cross saw Grimes beat Ross to the ball. However, the attempt could not be redirected inside the post.

In the next attack a through ball looked briefly to have set Lewington clear. Gerring read the play well and tracked back to win the ball back. The ball was played out via Casey, then Allassani and a few passes later had made its way forward to Little on the edge of the penalty area. Sensing the goalkeeper was not entirely set in his position the Cards midfielder took a quick pop shot which beamed into the top corner of the goal. From out of nothing the Cards were ahead.

There was a short delay to proceedings towards the end of the half when a heavy clash resulted in
Bentley receiving medical attention for a head injury. When the White Tigers defender returned he
had donned a replacement unnumbered shirt.

The final attempt of the half came from the Cards where good interchanging play between
Allassani and Hodges presented the latter with an opportunity to shoot from 15 yards out. Under
pressure from a potential challenge the chance came to nothing when the shot was dragged wide
of the far post.

Half-time: Truro City 0 Woking 1

Buoyed by an effective first half performance Alan Dowson opted to start the second half with the same team and was rewarded with an instant attack from the kick off. Allassani found Durojaiye in space and the Cards debutant unleashed a powerful shot which was held well by Rivers.

A quick succession of late tackles saw both Hyde and then Gerring enter the referee’s notebook.

Allen’s swirling corner was again punched away well by Ross under pressure from a crowd of bodies. As the Cards broke away on the counter attack, Hodges switched the ball across to Tarpey who appeared to be set clear. Agonisingly for the Barnet loanee, a small divot lifted the ball at the moment the shot was being readied and by the time the striker had recomposed, the angle had grown to tight for the shot to trouble Rivers.

Later in the half Tarpey attempted to return the favour to Hodges when a pinpoint cross was curled in with accuracy. Hodges got up well and ahead of the advancing Rivers but the header was narrowly wide of the post.

Woking closed the half out well and restricted the home side to a minimum of chances. As time wore down some effective game management meant that Truro were unable to endanger Ross’s clean sheet.

With title rivals Torquay United managing to salvage a late victory at East Thurrock the consequence is that positions remain unchanged this evening. The Cards must now prepare for another away trip on Saturday when they visit Hungerford Town.

Woking:1 Craig Ross, 2 Nathan Collier, 3 Josh Casey (Capt), 4 Jack Cook, 5 Ben Gerring, 6 Olumide Durojaiye, 7 Paul Hodges, 8 Armani Little, 9 Jake Hyde (14 Harvey Bradbury 79’), 10 Dave Tarpey (12 Greg Luer 75’), 11 Reise Allassani (16 Max Kretzschmar 69’)

Unused subs: 15 Ian Gayle, 18 James Dunn

Goals: Little 29’

Bookings: Hyde 51’, Gerring 53’

Truro City 1 Harvey Rivers, 2 Niall Thompson, 3 Connor Riley Lowe, 5 Nicholas Grimes, 17 Arron Bentley, 6 Jamie Richards (Capt), 7 Ben Harding (10 Louis Rooney 65’ (12 Steven Ziboth 71’)), 11 River Allen, 20 Jordan Copp, 9 Tyler Harvey, 19 Jared Lewington

Unused subs: 15 Dan Rooney, 16 Ben Rowthorn, 18 Alex Battle

Bookings: Bentley 90’

Referee: Richard Gardner

Attendance: 718

Man of the Match: Armani Little: An excellent return to the team. Controlled the midfield well and was rewarded with a goal when taking a quick shot that the Truro defence had failed to anticipate.
Truro City LINEUP
1Harvey Rivers
2Niall Thompson
3Connor Riley-Lowe
5Nicholas Grimes
17Arron Bentley
6Jamie Richards
7Ben Harding ('65)
11River Allen
20Jordan Copp
9Tyler Harvey
19Jared Lewington
BENCH
10Louis Rooney ('65) ('71)
12Steven Ziboth ('71)
15Dan Rooney
16Ben Rowthorn
18Alex Battle
WOKING LINEUP
1Craig Ross
2Nathan Collier
3Josh Casey
4Jack Cook
5Ben Gerring
6Olu Durojaiye
7Paul Hodges
8Armani Little
9Jake Hyde ('79)
10Dave Tarpey ('75)
11Reise Allassani ('69)
BENCH
12Greg Luer ('75)
14Harvey Bradbury ('79)
15Ian Gayle
16Max Kretzschmar ('69)
18James Dunn

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